Re: Vista Upgrade a Slap in the Face to MS Customers

Since you have now wasted days installing Vista both legally and illegally,
then complaining it wouldn't work, why don't you take the "hours" needed to
do it correctly:

Format the drive.
Install XP (no need to activate)
Upgrade to Vista.
Uncheck the box to Auto-Update during installation.
Do not automatically activate (it wouldn't work anyway.)
When done installing, then go to manufacturer websites for the components
you own and update drivers.
Install a free anti-virus.
Start the activation process from the System Properties page and call MS
with the number provided when told your key is already in use.
Answer "No" to the one question they will ask and enter the numbers they
provide you. (<5 minute call)
No lengthy discussion required.
Install any additional software you want to use.
Turn on Auto-Update and install all updates from MS.
Now, make a full backup or image so that your next "install" takes only 20
minutes. (Recovering your backup.)

If this fails, take it to a shop and have it fixed.
We can't solve your frustration with MS.

"Dr. Raymond Blacketer" <DrRaymondBlacketer@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote
in message news:E2666183-DA5C-4656-A693-87922F2D698B@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I have been a Microsoft customer since the DOS days, well over twenty
years
now, and I am fed up with MS. I installed an upgrade version of Vista,
using
the ridiculous method of installing it from XP, but there were problems
with
the installation. I reinstalled Vista (clean install), assuming that once
I
had activated it, I could reactivate it. That would be fair and
reasonable,
but it turns out that neither of these terms mean anything to Microsoft. I
spent an entire day restoring/reinstalling all my programs, settings, and
documents. Now, because MS says my product key is invalid, I either have
to
spend more days reinstalling and reconfiguring, or pay a few hundred bucks
or
something for a new license, or vista will stop working fully in a few
weeks.

I paid for XP (not to mention W98, WME, W95, Windos 3.0, various versions
of
DOS, Office for Dos through Office 2007, etc. etc. etc.) and I am
therefore
eligible to upgrade to vista; but MS had made it terribly complicated, and
simply wants to extract more money out of its customers, even the long
time,
loyal ones, who must be a rapidly decreasing breed.

I can understand the need to have some kind of proof that the installer
owns
a legit copy of XP, etc, but the hoops one has to jump through for a clean
install are simply ridiculous. If I had any confidence that Mac could run
the
software I need, I'd be there.

Even when I try to contact customer support, they want to charge me $60
bucks just for listening. Microsoft is damnable.


.

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